Close on the heels of the Millennium celebrations of the Big Temple at Thanjavur held in September, the 1025th Sadhaya Vizha, of King Rajaraja Cholan, who built the temple, was celebrated on November 14 and 15.
Cultural programmes marked the birthday celebrations of the King. What impressed and attracted large number of people were the ‘abishekams' performed to Lord Brihadisvara and Goddess Periyanayagai on Monday. It was a rare sight to see the ‘abishekam' being performed to one of the biggest Siva Linga.
Brihadisvara, also called Peruvudayar in Tamil, was immersed in litres of milk, ghee, sandal paste, tender coconut, fruits, scared ashes etc.
‘Annabishekam' and ‘Panneer abishekam' were also performed. Sacred leaves like Bilva, Vanni, Nochi, Pichi, Aththi, Arasan, Alan, Pala etc. were also applied. Finally holy water from 108 kalasams was poured on the Linga.
According to Ayyappa Swamigal of Thiruverkadu, who does the ‘abishekam' every year, said that 47 types of ‘abishekams' were performed to the Lord. Floral decoration was done at the end and ‘aarthi' was performed.
T. Selvam, Chairman, Sadhaya Vizha Committee, said that every year ‘absihekams' were performed during the celebrations. This year it becomes important as this is the 1000th year of the construction of the temple.
Seminars, debates, poetry sessions were held as part of the festival on the two days. Idols of Gods and Goddesses in the temple and King Rajarajan were taken in procession at the end. The temple with its soaring tower, which rises to a height of 212 ft, sprawling ‘praharas,' beautiful ‘mandapams' and Nandhi at the entrance was illuminated and beautifully decorated for the occasion.
